Transfer foil for applying a decorative layer arrangement to a substrate

ABSTRACT

There is proposed a transfer foil which makes it possible for decorative layer arrangements as are known from hot stamping foils to be transferred onto a substrate without a high level of material expenditure. For that purpose the carrier film of a hot stamping foil is fixedly joined by means of a permanent adhesive to the base foil.

This application claims priority based on an International Applicationfiled under the Patent Cooperation Treaty PCT/DE00/02804, filed on Aug.16, 2000, and German Patent Application No. 199 40 790.8, filed on Aug.27, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns transfer foils for applying a decorative layerarrangement formed by at least one lacquer layer and a heat-activatableadhesive layer to a substrate.

Safeguarding documents is becoming increasingly important, in whichrespect the term “documents” is used to mean not only identity papers,value-bearing papers or stocks and shares or the like but for examplealso banknotes, cheques, credit cards etc. Value-bearing documents, forexample banknotes, very frequently involve using security elementsformed by a decorative layer arrangement which for example includesstructures having an optical-diffraction or holographic effect. Inaddition however it is also possible to provide given graphicconfigurations as security elements. In the case of value-bearingdocuments issued in large numbers the security elements are veryfrequently applied by means of a transfer foil, for example a hotstamping foil, in which case the decorative layer arrangement formingthe security element usually includes at least one lacquer layer and alayer of a heat-activatable adhesive which serves to join the lacquerlayer or assembly of lacquer layers which represent the actual securityelement, to the substrate, for example a banknote, a cheque, an identitydocument or a credit card.

In most cases the operation of transferring the security element ontothe document is effected by machine. In that situation processing oftransfer foils, mostly so-called hot stamping foils, gives rise to fewproblems if the machines are of a suitable design.

The decorative layer arrangements of hot stamping foils are only of verysmall thickness. They comprise essentially only some lacquer layers. Theadvantage of this small thickness of the security elements is that, whenthe security elements are arranged only in a given region of thedocument, there are nonetheless no fundamental differences in thicknessin the document. Such differences in thickness could in fact give riseto problems in regard to the stacking operation. A further advantage ofusing decorative layer arrangements comprising a plurality of lacquerlayers as security elements is that layer arrangements of that kind aremechanically not very stable. If therefore the attempt is made to pull asecurity element off the document, it is virtually safe to assume thatthe security element comprising the various lacquer layers will bedestroyed so that the forgery or the attempt at forgery can be easilydetected.

The use of hot stamping foils for applying security elements todocuments does however suffer from the disadvantage that it is alwaysnecessary to incur a corresponding amount of machine expenditure becauseapplying hot stamping foil decorative layers as security elements tosubstrates by hand is practically impossible, more specifically becauseof the very small thickness of the decorative layer arrangement of a hotstamping foil. This means that for specific situations of use, the useof hot stamping foils as a security element was hitherto out of thequestion because the machine expenditure required would not have been inreasonable relationship with the result attained.

In certain cases it would moreover be highly advantageous if a securityelement could be individualised before being applied to a document. Thatoption is worthwhile in particular in relation to personal documents. Itwould then be possible to use a security element which, before beingapplied to the document, was individualised with personal data of theowner of the document, for example a photograph, name or date of birthetc. That possibility is out of the question in a practical context ifsecurity elements are transferred onto a document by means of a knownhot stamping foil, more specifically in particular for the reason thatindividually printing security elements which are always present in verylarge numbers on hot stamping foils is once again out of the question,because of the expense involved, if only a few, correspondinglyindividualised security elements are required. By way of example thesituation is such that only very few security elements withperson-related data are always required for personal identifications,passports etc. Frequently even one such element is sufficient, which isthen a component part of the personal identification or passport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Now, the object of the invention is to provide a transfer foil by meansof which it is possible to transfer a security or decorative elementwhich in terms of its structure basically corresponds to the decorativelayer arrangement of a per se known hot stamping foil, whereinapplication of the decorative layer arrangement to the substrate, forexample a document, is to be possible, even without extensive machineequipment.

In accordance with the invention, to attain that object, there isproposed a transfer foil of the kind set forth in the opening part ofthis specification, which includes a base foil which is connected bymeans of a permanent adhesive to the one surface of a carrier film, atthe other surface of which is arranged the decorative layer arrangementwhich is releasable from the carrier film under the effect of heat, andwhich on its side remote from the carrier film has the heat-activatableadhesive layer serving for joining to the substrate.

The transfer foil according to the invention therefore differs from perse known hot stamping foils in that, in addition to the carrier orbacking film which is provided in known hot stamping foils forstabilisation of the decorative layer arrangement, there is anadditional base foil which is joined to the carrier film by means of apermanent adhesive. In that respect the carrier film and the base filmare usually joined after manufacture of the actual hot stamping foil. Inaccordance with the invention therefore there is afforded a transferfoil which is of comparatively, high stability because, instead of therelatively thin carrier film which is hitherto usual in the case of hotstamping foils, there is a combination of base foil and carrier filmwhich enjoys the necessary stability so that the transfer foil can behandled neatly and tidily even without expensive machines. In use, theuser lays a transfer foil of that kind with the side on which there isthe decorative layer arrangement with the adhesive on the substrate.Then, by the appropriate action of pressure and heat, the decorativelayer arrangement is joined to the substrate and then the carrier filmjointly with the base foil is pulled off the decorative layerarrangement which remains behind on the substrate. Thus, when using thetransfer foil in accordance with the invention, there is the possibilityof transferring a very thin decorative layer arrangement which hithertocould only be applied by means of the hot stamping foil procedure to thesubstrate, for example a document. At the same time however handling ofthe transfer foil is greatly simplified by virtue of the stability ofthe combination of base foil and carrier film. In the case of thetransfer foil according to the invention the decorative layerarrangement can be designed in the manner which is known from hotstamping foils. In particular there is no need to provide forcorresponding stability of the decorative layer arrangement in itselfbecause that decorative layer arrangement is sufficiently stabilisedduring manufacture by virtue of the presence of the carrier film.

In accordance with the invention therefore there is proposed a transferfoil which, in comparison with known hot stamping foils, enjoys asubstantially wider area of use, and which in particular can be securelyand reliably processed even by means of very simple apparatuses.Nonetheless the transfer foil in accordance with the invention, inregard to the decorative layer arrangement, enjoys all designconfiguration options known hitherto from hot stamping foils.

It has proven to be advantageous if the base foil is formed by a paperweb which is siliconised on its surface remote from the carrier film andwhich detachably adheres with its siliconised surface to a carrier foil,for example a carrier paper. In that case for example a plurality ofsmall security elements can be arranged on a common sheet, namely thecarrier foil. For use in that respect, a security element comprising thebase foil, carrier film and decorative layer arrangement is thenreleased from the carrier foil and suitably transferred onto theintended substrate.

That operation of transferring individual elements can advantageously bemade easier if the base foil with the carrier film and the decorativelayer arrangement is subdivided into a plurality of label-likeindividual elements, wherein a plurality of such individual elements arearranged on a carrier foil web in such a way they can be pulledtherefrom. In that respect the subdivision is desirably such that theindividual elements are formed by stamping or perforating the base foil,the carrier film and the decorative layer arrangement along theirintended peripheral edges, without the carrier foil being cut.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the transfer foil according tothe invention is designed in such a way that the decorative layerarrangement is transparent and the adhesive layer which serves forfixing the decorative layer arrangement to the substrate can be appliedby printing by means of a printer, for example a laser printer or athermal printer. In the case of a transfer foil of that kind, suitableindividualisation can be effected for example by the operation ofprinting on the adhesive layer. It is for example possible for the sideof a passport which contains the personal data to be safeguarded byusing a transfer foil in accordance with the invention, in which casethe basic information can already be applied upon manufacture of thetransfer foil in the factory, in a suitable printing operation, forexample between individual layers, which involve the entire surfacearea, of the decorative layer arrangement, while the person-relateddata, for example surname, forename, address, dates of birth and pictureof the holder are then applied by printing before use of the transferfoil on the adhesive layer thereof by means of a suitable printer. Afterthe individualising printing operation the transfer foil is then laidwith the printed adhesive layer onto the substrate and fixed to thesubstrate by heat and possibly the action of pressure. This embodimentenjoys the advantage that the individualising details are concealed bythe decorative layer arrangement of the transfer foil, in other words, amodification is not possible without at the same time damaging thedecorative layer arrangement. If the attempt is made to pull thedecorative layer arrangement off the substrate in order to alter theindividualising data, it must be reckoned that the decorative layerarrangement will be destroyed. In addition in a normal situation it isto be assumed that the individualising data are also to be found on thesubstrate again because, with the usual processing conditions in regardto the transfer foil according to the invention, at least a certainproportion of the printing ink present on the adhesive layer is alsodirectly joined to the substrate.

A further improvement in the transfer foil according to the invention inthe sense of affording a safeguard is possible in accordance with theinvention by virtue of the fact that the decorative layer arrangementhas at least one replication lacquer layer provided at a surface with astructure having an optical-diffraction and/or holographic action.Structures of that kind with an optical-diffraction or holographicaction are generally known per se from security elements formed by hotstamping foil decorative layer arrangements and for that reason do nothave to be described in greater detail.

In regard to the previous security elements it is now frequently thecase that the structure having an optical-diffraction or holographicaction is covered by means of a reflective layer, generally avapour-deposited metal layer, and is thereby better visible underincident light. In accordance with the invention it is preferred if thestructure having the optical-diffraction and/or holographic actioncarries a transparent layer of a material whose refractive index ismarkedly higher than that of the transparent replication lacquer layer.With such a design configuration, that affords adequate visibility forthe optically operative structure. At the same time however thedecorative layer arrangement remains transparent so that it is stillpossible to perceive the substrate and any identifications possiblyprovided between the substrate and the decorative layer arrangement, forexample, printing on the adhesive layer of the decorative layerarrangement. Preferably the material layer which enhances the visibilityof the optically operative structure is produced by a layer of ZnS,TiO₂, SiO or a material having a similar action in terms of refractionbeing provided, for example by vapour deposition.

It is further provided in accordance with the invention that theheat-activatable adhesive layer serving for fixing to the substrate isformed by two adhesive layer portions, between which is arranged amarking produced in a printing process, wherein the marking canadvantageously be formed by printing inks which are perceivable onlyupon illumination with light in predetermined wavelength ranges. When inthis respect reference is made to two “adhesive layer portions”, it iscertainly not necessary for the two adhesive layer portions to be of thesame composition and structure. On the contrary, consideration is givenin particular to the situation where the first adhesive layer portion—asseen from the carrier film—is a bonding layer which provides thatbonding to the vapour deposited layer which improves the visibility ofthe diffractive structure is particularly good. It would certainly alsobe possible to envisage the situation where there is only one adhesivelayer, in which case then the marking produced in the printing processwould have to be present directly on the layer which improves thevisibility of the structure.

In accordance with the demands of the user, the sequence of layers ofthe decorative layer arrangement will be varied, in which respectusually firstly a hot stamping foil is produced with appropriate layers,and that hot stamping foil is then applied by lamination to the basefoil. It will be appreciated that in this case, to join the carrier filmof the hot stamping foil to the base foil, it is necessary to use anadhesive which, at the temperatures which are employed for applying thedecorative layer arrangement to the substrate, does not suffer areduction in its adhesive strength and which ensures that the base foiland the carrier film are securely held together.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the transfer foil according tothe invention is distinguished in that it includes the followingmutually adjoining constituents or layers:

a carrier paper web,

a web of silicone paper which releasably adheres with its siliconisedsurface to the carrier paper web,

a carrier film which is joined by means of a permanent adhesive to thenon-siliconised surface of the silicone paper web, wherein on its freesurface the carrier film has in succession the following layers:

a release layer which is present only if required,

a transparent replication lacquer layer which at its surface remote fromthe carrier film has the structure with the optical-diffraction and/orholographic action,

a layer which covers the structure at least in a region-wise manner,that layer being of a material with high refractive index in comparisonwith the replication lacquer layer,

a heat-activatable adhesive layer, and

possibly a second heat-activatable adhesive layer and a printed markingbetween the two heat-activatable adhesive layers, wherein

the replication lacquer layer, the layer of material with a highrefractive index and the heat-activatable adhesive layer or layers aretransparent and the adhesive layer forming the surface of the transferfoil which is remote from the carrier foil web is formed by a materialwhich can be printed by means of a printer.

The transfer foil of the configuration described hereinbefore satisfiesthe demands stated in the opening part of this specification in anexcellent fashion. It affords the possibility of applying acomparatively thin decorative layer arrangement which hitherto could betransferred only by means of a hot stamping foil, onto a substrate,without involving a high level of machine expenditure. At the same timethe transfer foil according to the invention can be easily handled andit is readily possible to individualisingly print various securityelements formed by means of a transfer foil according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the description hereinafter of a preferred embodiment of atransfer foil with reference to the drawing.

In the drawing in which the Figures are each heavily diagrammatic andshow a view in section:

FIG. 1 illustrates a part of a sheet with a plurality of securityelements formed by a transfer foil according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows an individual security element separated from thearrangement of FIG. 1 after individualisation and before being appliedto a substrate, and

FIG. 3 shows a security element as shown in FIG. 2 after application toa substrate and after detachment of the decorative layer arrangementfrom the remaining layers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The transfer foil shown in FIG. 1 includes—viewing from top to bottom inthe drawing—a carrier foil 1 to which a base foil 3 is relatively easilyreleasably fixed by means of a suitable adhesive 2. The base foil 3 isjoined fixedly and under the usual processing conditions non-detachablyby means of a permanent adhesive 4 to the carrier film 5 of a hotstamping foil which is generally identified by reference 6 and which isbasically of a known structure.

The hot stamping foil 6 comprises on the one hand the carrier film 5 andon the other hand the decorative layer arrangement which is generallyidentified by reference 7 and which is releasable from the carrier film5 and transferable onto a substrate 8 shown in FIG. 3, in the mannerwhich is usual per se from the processing of hot stamping foils.

In the illustrated embodiment, the following layers are arranged on theside of the carrier film 5, which is remote from the base foil 3:

a release layer 9,

a protective lacquer layer 10,

a replication lacquer layer 11 which, as diagrammatically indicated inthe drawing, is provided with a structure 12 having anoptical-diffraction or holographic action,

a layer 13 of a material having a refractive index which is markedlydifferent from that of the replication lacquer layer 11,

a bonding or first adhesive layer 14, and

a second adhesive layer 15 which serves to join the decorative layerarrangement 7 to the substrate 8.

It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the various layer portions of thetransfer foil are subdivided by stampings or perforations 16 in order inthat way for example to form label-like individual elements 17. It willbe appreciated in that respect that the stampings or perforations 16 donot involve the carrier foil 1. For that reason there is a relativelylarge sheet which has a plurality of individual elements 17 which canalso be correspondingly individually removed from the carrier foil 1,which can be made easier by a suitable configuration of the separatingsurface, as indicated by the arrow a, between the base foil 3 and theadhesive 2, or by virtue of a suitable choice of the adhesive 2.

It can further be seen from the drawings that markings 19 are providedin the region of the interface 18 between the bonding or first adhesivelayer 14 and the second adhesive layer 15. Those markings are preferablyapplied by a printing process and appropriately comprise a lacquer or aprinting ink which is visible only upon illumination with light of aspecific wavelength, for example upon illumination with UV-light. Itwill be appreciated that a prerequisite for the markings to be visibleis that the various layers 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 of the decorative layerarrangement 7 are suitably transparent.

While FIG. 1 shows a transfer foil, as can be found for example on themarket and which the respective consumer uses in order to apply theindividual label-like elements 17 to a substrate, FIG. 2 only shows onelabel-like element 17 in which—supplemental to the embodiment of FIG.1—the second adhesive layer 15 is provided with items of individualisinginformation, for example with details relating to the person of a passholder, including pictures. For that purpose the adhesive layer 15 issuitably printed upon, as indicated at 20. The printing can be appliedwith conventional printing apparatuses, for example by means of thermaltransfer printing, laser printing etc. In that respect it is to beassumed that, in spite of the partial printing at 20, the adhesive layer15 adheres sufficiently firmly to the substrate provided only that thethickness of the adhesive layer 15 is sufficiently great and sufficientarea remains in which adhesive without printing thereon directly adjoinsthe surface 21 of the substrate 8, for example an identity card or thelike. If small particles are used to produce the printing 20, it is evenpossible to provide for printing over virtually the entire area as inthat case the adhesive of the layer 15 can appropriately pass throughbetween the individual particles.

Use of the transfer foil in accordance with the illustrate embodimentnow takes place as follows:

In general terms, firstly the printing 20 is applied to the free surfaceof the adhesive layer 15. That can easily be effected for example byusing as the carrier foil a paper web of standard format, which can thenbe inserted into commercially available printers which produce thedesired printing (20) on the free surface of the adhesive layer 15.

Then, after the printing operation, at least one label-like individualelement 17 is detached from the carrier foil 1, for example a piece ofcarrier paper. That is very easily possible if the base foil used issilicone paper which is siliconised on the surface 22 facing towards theadhesive layer 2 while the other surface which is joined to the carrierfilm 5 does not have any coating and therefore enjoys good adhesion.

The appropriately printed individual element 17 which is detached fromthe carrier foil 1 is then applied to a substrate and, preferably at asuitably elevated temperature of about 130° C., pressed against thesurface 21 of the substrate.

In that way the adhesive layer 15 and consequently the entire decorativelayer arrangement 7 is fixedly joined to the surface 21 of the substrate8. At the same time the release layer 9 softens so that it is easilypossible for the carrier film 5 and the base foil 3 fixedly connectedthereto by means of the permanent adhesive layer 4 to be pulled off thedecorative layer arrangement.

Then only the thin decorative layer 7 which corresponds to knowndecorative layer arrangements of hot stamping foils and which forexample can form a security element still remains on the substrate, forexample a document 8.

In FIG. 3, an illustration was adopted, in which the decorative layerarrangement 7 covers only a region of the surface 21 of the substrate.It will be appreciated that it would also be possible for example in thecase of passports or the like for the size of the label-like individualelements 17 to be so selected that they are the same as the size of thesubstrate, that is to say for example they are of the same size as apage of a passport or the same size as a personal identity card.

The individual layers can for example be composed or selected asfollows:

Carrier foil 1

The carrier foil used is preferably a carrier paper, paper involving aweight in relation to area of between 35 and 150 g/m² desirably beingused.

Base foil 3

The base foil involves a reinforcing layer which is also known per sefrom labels. It is possible to use for example a plastic foil.Preferably however the base foil 3 used is a silicone paper, wherein thesiliconised surface 22 is joined to the carrier foil 1 by way of a perse known bonding adhesive which is commonly used for such purposes.

Permanent adhesive 4

The function of the permanent adhesive is to ensure that the base foil 3and the carrier film 5 remain firmly joined together even if heat isused to transfer the transfer foil onto the substrate. Those conditionsare generally satisfied by current, permanently adhering acrylatedispersion adhesives.

Carrier film 5

Here the carrier films which are usual in relation to hot stamping foilsare used, more appropriately using plastic films which have a verysmooth surface in order not to adversely affect the transparency of thedecorative layer arrangement 7 due to surface irregularities. In a verylarge number of cases the carrier film 5 used is in the form ofpolyester foils of a thickness of around 20 μm, while in the presentcase it is possible to use even thinner carrier films 5 as the carrierfilm 5 is in fact reinforced during handling by the base foil 3.

Release layer 9

The release layer 9 is generally applied over the full area in a layerthickness of between about 0.01 and 0.2 μm. It can be for example of thefollowing composition:

Toluene 995 g

Ester wax (drop point: 90° C.) 5 g

Protective lacquer layer 10

The protective lacquer layer 10 is also generally applied over the fullarea, more specifically in a layer thickness of between 0.5 and 5.0 μm,preferably between 1 and 2 μm. The composition of the protective lacquerlayer 10 can be as follows:

MEK 400 g

Toluene 150 g

Cyclohexanone 200 g

Cellulose nitrate (low viscosity,

65 percent in alcohol) 140 g

Methylmethacrylate (d=1.17 g/m³,

sp/c=40-50 cm³/g) 100 g

Replication lacquer layer 11

The replication lacquer layer 11 can be applied over the full area butalso in a region-wise manner, more specifically if for example it wereto be the case that the structure 12 with the holographic oroptical-diffraction action is provided only in a region-wise manner. Thelayer thickness of the replication lacquer layer 11 is between 0.05 and1.5 μm. It can be of the following composition:

Cyclohexanone 200 g

Methylmethacrylate (d=1.17 g/m³.

mp>130° C.) 12 g

Polyvinylchloride terpolymer (Tg=90° C.) 5 g

Ethyl acetate 200 g

Structure 12

The structure 12 can be a generally known structure which has anoptical-diffraction or holographic action and which is conventionallyused for so-called OVDs, for example a diffraction structure, whereinthe optical properties of the structure 12 are determined by thecorresponding structure parameters, for example grating frequency,grating depth, grating inclination etc. The structure 12 is generallyapplied to the replication lacquer layer 11 in a replication processduring manufacture of the hot stamping foil 6.

HRI (highly reflective) layer 13

The function of the highly reflective layer 13 is to improve thevisibility of the structure 12 with the optical-diffraction orholographic action, in which respect, as consideration of FIG. 3reveals, it is necessary at the same time to ensure that the viewer cansee through the layer 13 in order to perceive the markings 19 and theprinting 20.

That function can be performed for example by a vapour-deposited, highlyrefractive layer, of a thickness of between 10 and 500 nm, in whichrespect for example metal oxides, metal sulphides, titanium dioxide etc.can perform that task.

Adhesive layers 14 and 15

As already mentioned it is possible for the two layers 14 and 15 to beproduced from the same transparent material. It would however also bepossible for the layer 14 to be provided only as a bonding layer betweenthe adhesive layer 15 and the coating 13 on the structure 12.

In the illustrated embodiment it is assumed that two identical adhesivelayers are used, which involve the full area and which are of a layerthickness of between 2 and 10 μm, preferably between 3 and 6 μm. Theadhesive layers can be of the following composition:

MEK 250 g

Toluene 340 g

Vinylchloride-vinylacetate copolymer (mp:80° C.) 120 g

Thermoplastic polyurethane (d=1.18 g/cm³) 165 g

Silicic acid, hydrophobised

(particle size about 10 μm) 60 g

Markings 19

The markings 19 preferably involve elements which are applied in aprinting process after application of the first adhesive layer, forexample specific graphic elements, a text which is only visible undergiven viewing conditions, and so forth. In the specific embodiment it isassumed that the markings 19 are formed by a decorative lacquerresponsive to UV-light, which can be of the following composition:

MEK 2000 g

Butylacetate 600 g

Cyclohexanone 200 g

Methylmethacrylate (d=1.15 g/m³,

Tg=50° C.) 200 g

PVC/PVAC mixed polymer

(softening point: 90° C.) 500 g

Methylmethacrylate

(d=1.16 g.m³, n sp/c=40-50 cm³/g) 130 g

Diacetone alcohol 100 g

High-molecular dispersing additive 80 g

Luminescence pigment (organic/inorganic) 125 g

Printing 20

The printing 20 applied to the free surface of the adhesive layer 15, asalready mentioned, is produced by familiar printing processes, forexample by means of laser printers, thermal transfer printers etc.Theoretically it would also be conceivable for further markings to beapplied by hand instead of printing 20. Laser or thermal transferprinting however are to be preferred because in that case, as a resultof the transfer foil being fixed on the substrate 8 under the effect ofheat, it is to be assumed that the particles producing the print atleast partially also adhere directly to the substrate. If in such asituation the attempt is then made to detach the decorative layerarrangement 7 from the substrate 8, it is to be reckoned that at leastresidues of the printing 20 serving for identification purposes alsoremain so firmly adhering directly to the substrate 8 that detachment ofthe decorative layer arrangement 7 cannot be achieved, without leavingbehind traces.

Production of the transfer foil is usually effected in such a way thatfirstly a hot stamping foil 6 is produced using the familiar processesfor that purpose, that is to say essentially by means of printingprocesses, and the hot stamping foil 6 is then fixedly joined to anadhesive composite comprising the carrier foil 1 and the base foil 3 bymeans of the permanent adhesive 4, for example by a per se knownlamination process.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transfer foil for applying a decorative layerarrangement comprising at least one lacquer layer and a heat-activatableadhesive layer to a substrate, wherein the transfer foil comprises abase foil which is formed by a paper web and which is joined by means ofa permanent adhesive to a first surface of a carrier film, at a secondsurface of the carrier film is arranged the decorative layer arrangementwhich is releasable from the carrier film under the effect of heat andwhich on its side remote from the carrier film has the heat-activatableadhesive layer which serves for joining to the substrate, wherein thebase foil is siliconised on its surface remote from the carrier film andreleasably adheres with said siliconised surface to a carrier foil.
 2. Atransfer foil according to claim 1, wherein the base foil with thecarrier film and the decorative layer arrangement is subdivided into aplurality of individual elements, wherein a plurality of such individualelements are releasably arranged on a carrier foil web.
 3. A transferfoil according to claim 2, wherein the individual elements are formed bystamping or perforation of the base foil, the carrier film and thedecorative layer arrangement along their intended peripheral edges.
 4. Atransfer foil according to claim 1 wherein, the decorative layerarrangement is transparent and the adhesive layer which serves forfixing the decorative layer arrangement to the substrate can be printedupon by means of a printer.
 5. A transfer foil according to claim 1,wherein the decorative layer arrangement has at least one replicationlacquer layer provided at a surface with a structure having anoptical-diffraction and/or holographic action.
 6. A transfer foilaccording to claim 5, wherein the structure which has anoptical-diffraction and/or holographic action carries a transparentlayer of a material whose refractive index is markedly higher than thatof the transparent replication lacquer layer.
 7. A transfer foilaccording to claim 5, wherein the structure having anoptical-diffraction and/or holographic action carries a vapor depositedlayer of ZnS, TiO₂, SiO or a material which enhances the visibility ofthe structure in terms of refraction.
 8. A transfer foil according toclaim 1, wherein the heat-activatable adhesive layer serving for fixingto the substrate is formed by two adhesive layer portions, between whichis arranged a marking produced in a printing process.
 9. A transfer foilaccording to claim 8, wherein the marking is formed by printing inkswhich are perceivable only upon illumination with light of predeterminedwavelength ranges.
 10. A transfer foil according to claim 1, wherein thetransfer foil includes the following mutually adjoining constituents: acarrier foil web, a web of silicone paper having a siliconized surfaceand a non-siliconized surface, wherein the silicone paper web releasablyadheres with its siliconized surface to the carrier foil web, a carrierfilm which is joined by means of a permanent adhesive to thenon-siliconized surface of the silicone paper web, and on the freesurface of which there are successively provided: an optional releaselayer, a transparent replication lacquer layer having at its surfaceremote from the carrier film a structure which has anoptical-diffraction and/or holographic action, a layer which at leastpartially covers the structure and which is of a material of a highrefractive index in comparison with the replication lacquer layer, aheat-activatable adhesive layer, and the replication lacquer layer, thelayer of highly refractive material and the heat-activatable adhesivelayer are transparent and the adhesive layer forming the surface of thetransfer foil, which is remote from the carrier foil web, is formed by amaterial which can be printed upon by means of a printer.
 11. A transferfoil according to claim 10, wherein the transfer foil further includes asecond transparent, heat-activatable adhesive layer and between the twoheat-activatable adhesive layers a printed marking.